The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903 Page: 170
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170 Tewas Historical Association Quarterly.
party. But during his year of seclusion Santa Anna changed his
opinions and became the leader of reaction. This drew to his
support the clergy and the military, and on April 24, 1834, he
finally assumed the executive power. A month later he dissolved the
national congress and many of the State legislatures, dismissed his
ministers, and ruled as dictator. A subservient congress was called
in January, 1835, and began working toward the legitimation of
the existing despotism. Vice-President Farias was first declared
deposed; in March a decree ordered that the militia be reduced to
one for every five hundred inhabitants and that the balance be dis-
armed; in May congress was declared competent to reform the con-
stitution of 1824; and on October 3 a decree declared the estab-
lishment of a centralized government. These measures produced
great excitement, and federalist insurrections broke out or were
threatened in various parts of the country, while Zacatecas and
Coahuila and Texas refused entire to accept the new system. But
centralism was in the ascendant, and the insurrections were sup-
pressed, Zacatecas was declared in rebellion and subdued with great
harshness, and preparation was made for the subjugation of Texas.
These successes of the dictator drove many of the liberals into
exile, and among those who found a refuge in New Orleans were
George Fisher and Jose Antonio Mexia, who determined to organ-
ize and lead from there an expedition in a final effort to restore the
federal system.
Fisher reached New Orleans on October 9, 1835,' where he found
sentiment already high in favor of the opposition which Texas was
offering to Santa Anna. The moderate party had the upper hand
in Texas at this time, and were determined to uphold the constitu-
tion of 1824, so that their cause was identical with that of the Mexi-
can liberals. The leading Texas sympathizers and some of the
exiled federalists had already been holding conferences, and when
Fisher joined them it was decided to call a public mass meeting
and make an appeal for volunteers and contributions in behalf of
Texas. A meeting was accordingly held at Banks's Arcade on the
evening of October 13. William Christy presded and James
Ramage acted as secretary. The chairman explained the object of
the meeting and appointed a committee to draft resolutions, and
while this was in retirement requested Fisher to describe the politi-
'Fisher's Memorials, 11.-Archives of Texas, C, File 28, No. 16.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 6, July 1902 - April, 1903, periodical, 1903; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101028/m1/174/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.